Friday

Feb 19, 2010 at 12:01 AMFeb 19, 2010 at 4:17 PM

Local officials and concerned members of the fishing community gathered to brainstorm a message to deliver to Washington, D.C., at the “United We Fish” rally. Fishermen and related business leaders from the Gloucester area, New Bedford, Maine and Rhode Island voiced their suggestions and asked questions about the coming protest.

New England fishermen are preparing to speak out in Washington at a Feb. 24 protest on Capitol Hill. That preparation included a strategy meeting Wednesday to figure to make sure their voices are heard.

During the Wednesday evening meeting, local officials and concerned members of the fishing community brainstormed a message to deliver to Washington, D.C., at the “United We Fish” rally. Fishermen and related business leaders from the Gloucester area, New Bedford, Maine and Rhode Island voiced their suggestions and asked questions about the coming protest.

The meeting, hosted by state Sen. Bruce Tarr and state Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante, also included strategy suggestions from Mayor Carolyn Kirk and audience members. The United We Fish rally, scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 24, is expected to draw thousands of people to the steps of the Capitol, and local officials do not want to waste the opportunity for Gloucester and New England’s voice to be heard.

“This is an important moment in history for the survival of the commercial fishing industry,” said Tarr. “We need to arrive in DC with a clear and simple message to be effective. The protest is also significant because it brings together many separate but related groups. All of them understand the need for healthy fisheries but feel that the current laws and regulations are not based on sound science, or are excessive and unnecessary.”

Although initially organized by the Recreational Fishing Alliance, commercial fishermen are expected to attend and the primary focus of the protest is the perceived negative impacts of the Magnuson Stevens Conservation and Management Act (MSA) of 2006. Fishing organizations, recreational and commercial fishermen, legislators and ordinary concerned citizens are uniting their efforts to protest the increasing closures of fishing grounds, and restrictions on types and amounts of fish to be caught.

Some attendees, however, are also inspired to attend the protest because of the alleged inappropriate law enforcement techniques practiced by NOAA. Kathy Hurlburt, 62, of West Gloucester said, “I don’t come from a fishing family. I just care about Gloucester and I think it’s a disgrace how law enforcement of the fishing industry has been handled around here. I am bringing my daughter and grandkids to the protest because I think it’s important for them to participate in their own government. I also don’t want any more restrictions on the fishermen. It’s hard enough for them to make a living.”

Another key area of the protest is the anticipated implementation of a “catch share” program in May which would only allow fishermen a specific percentage or share of the total allowable fishing catch. It includes Territorial Use Rights Fisheries (TURFs) that grant an exclusive privilege to fish in a geographically designated fishing ground. Many people encouraged Tarr and Ferrante to talk about the negative impacts of the catch program with legislators in D.C.

In a rare opportunity, members of the audience were also told they could sign up for a planned group meeting with U.S. Sen. John Kerry on the day of the protest. Ferrante said, “During this meeting, we plan to deliver a concise message and a clear expectation of what we are looking for. When you only have a limited time with legislators, you’ve got to keep it short and simple.”

Message suggestions from the audience poured in and during his presentation Tarr repeatedly acknowledged the need to balance concerns about job losses and the need to protect the environment from overfishing. Tarr and Ferrante were advised to be prepared to address the counterarguments from environmental groups who will undoubtedly also make an appearance in Washington and support the Magnuson Act as it stands.

Under the Magnuson Act, when a fishery is described as overfished, a Regional Fishery Management Council has two years to implement a plan to end overfishing and with limited exceptions has 10 years to rebuild the stock. According to documents from the United We Fish organizers, “the 10 year deadline is arbitrary, has no basis in science, may require stocks to be rebuilt to unprecedented levels and must be met without regard to the impact on fishermen, related industries and communities whose economic future relies on harvesting the fish.”

Kirk gave a presentation of her strategy suggestions which originated from her own meeting with fishermen last week. Kirk listened to the fishermen’s concerns to ensure she represents their needs in Washington. Many fishermen cannot attend the protest due to financial constraints or work schedules.

“Flexibility” was one word Kirk and the fishermen deemed important to deliver. Flexibility is also in the title of new legislation proposed by Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey and Sen. Charles Schumer of New York. The bill, H.R. 1584, the “Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act” would allow flexibility in the 10 year timeline that allows fishing stocks to recover without making fishermen and the related industries collapse.

Some audience members felt the protest was coming too late but were still hopeful for change.

“The catch share program will be the gun to the head of the fishing industry,” said Dave Marciano, 44, of Beverly, who has fished out of Gloucester for 30 years.

“We’ve already complied with so many regulations and gotten nowhere,” Marciano continued. “We will lose 50 to 70 percent of our fishermen if the catch share program is put in place. Many of these guys have their houses and boats tied up in the same mortgages, and for them to take another hit will be the end of them. There’s no coming back. I hope someone is listening in D.C.”

Cape Ann Beacon

Travel by bus to D.C.

If you would like more information about reserving a seat on a bus from Gloucester to D.C., call the Northeast Seafood Coalition at 978-283-9992. Advance reservations required.

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